13 Workers Earn Cash * But Some Want Attendance Award To Be Restricted Or Eliminated.

July 11, 1997|by KRISTI E. SWARTZ, The Morning Call

The Carbon County Area Vocational-Technical School will hand out 13 Iron Person Awards to faculty and staff who had perfect attendance during the 1996-97 academic year.

But some want to change the steel force behind that.

The vo-tech Operating Committee, comprising one member each from the Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Panther Valley, Palmerton and Weatherly school boards, voted last July to give $100 each to full-time employees who didn't take sick, personal or emergency days during an academic year. That amount would increase by $50 for consecutive years thereafter.

Those on leave of absence, taking a sabbatical or who are furloughed are not eligible, and those who do qualify must attend graduation.

But the award, patterned closely after Lehigh County vo-tech's award, was intended to reduce the cost of paying substitute teachers, according to Weatherly School District representative Thelma Kew.

The vo-tech has saved $4,703 by implementing the award, in which 65 full-time employees are eligible, according to business administrator and 1996-97 award recipient Jeffry P. Deutsch.

But administrators are allotted vacation days, which teachers do not have. Vacation days aren't listed under the absences that aren't allowed or that would make someone ineligible for the award.

"It defeated the purpose of the whole program," Kew said. "This is to take care of people who aren't coming into work, and if you don't want to work, go someplace else."

The Operating Committee, before adopting the award last year, considered making only teachers eligible, Deutsch said. But the board didn't want to discriminate against other full-time employees, he said.

Only four of the 13 receiving the award are teachers. Others receiving the award include Principal James Kraky, Executive Director Lyle Augustine Jr., four secretaries, a maintenance secretary and a custodian.

Kew said she pushed to have the award only for teachers but was voted down. She then wanted the award to be eliminated after a year.

The Operating Committee must approve names of eligible employees, and requirements for the award can change or the award can be eliminated at any time, Deutsch said. But it was reapproved at the committee's June 19 meeting.e